By Jimi Calhoun
This entry is the fifth post in a series of bridge-building, theological-cultural reflections by Jimi Calhoun, Pastor of “Bridging Austin,” in Austin, Texas.
Bridging Austin’s website states, ”We see the world as a spiritual place.” Seeing the world spiritually has a direct impact on how we perceive God, and that, in turn, determines how we connect with God and others. When dieting, reducing calories is great for reshaping the body. However, reductionism, or simplifying complexity, can stifle spiritual awareness and growth. Here’s why. Reductionism undermines the magnitude and transcendence of God by failing to capture the true essence of God’s holy nature, which encompasses both justice and mercy, among other attributes.
One aspect of our ministry is rooted in the prophetic tradition, which emphasizes social justice, moral accountability, and love of neighbor. Given that, my role extends beyond typical pastoral duties by speaking truth to power and challenging societal norms. Tradition can be defined as things carried forward. At Bridging Austin, we believe the Jewish and Christian traditions stand on the same foundation, the Hebrew Scriptures. For example, I frequently reference Rabbinical literature, specifically the Talmud and Mishnah, as ethical sources.
Many Rabbis studying those texts debated and disagreed over their exact meaning. That is not always bad. We believe this approach enables our people to hear from a variety of voices. It is important to remember that bridges allow travel in two directions or contexts, e.g., where one is headed and also away from what is being left behind. This indicates that bridges are not just for passage forward; they can facilitate a departure from something. We carry this same understanding into our spiritual practices and social commitments.
As to be expected, not everybody sees social activism in the same way. Consequently, it requires a certain amount of imagination to recognize the needs and the possibilities that exist. The Rolling Stones lead singer, Mick Jagger, sang about imagining the world outsideand that a person’s imagination can run away with them. This is important because many people have retreated into a world of “E-activism.” That happens when a person identifies injustice, some of which may only exist in their imagination, and only protests about them online. It’s a step, but nowhere near where we need to be. That is because each foray into the worlds and lives of marginalized people opens the door to a transformation of your heart as well as theirs.
In his timeless classic, The Prophetic Imagination, author and theologian Walter Brueggemann highlights how prophets breathe imaginative life into spiritual communities. He writes, “The task of prophetic ministry is to nurture, nourish, and evoke a consciousness and perception alternative to the consciousness and perception of the dominant culture.”[1] It follows then that a deep spirituality within can fuel the outward focus needed to heal the world through love. Now, I’ll share why.
Love, like a bridge, connects the heart with the mind and body. Then, it exposes the intrinsic, often deeply buried, goodness we possess as God’s image-bearers that hate obscures. I would also say that there is something even more basic to the prophetic vision at play here. Consider what the prophet Isaiah wrote, “For thus says the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity… I dwell in the high and holy place and also with those who are contrite and humble in spirit.”
Let’s get to the heart of the matter. Whether humility finds you or you find it, God is near, ready to love you and love others through you. In closing, I ask that you remember that we live in a world riddled with incoherence. The upshot of this is that in times of societal chaos, it is the marginalized who suffer the most. At Bridging Austin, we believe love breathes life into the human heart, giving it strength—and when people join hearts and stand together, they can rise as one to uplift those who are in the most need and achieve something powerful: meaningful impact.
[1] Brueggemann, The Prophetic Imagination, 2nd Edition. p. 3
You may contact Jimi Calhoun at Jimi@Bridgingaustin.org.